Benefits committee reviews December finances and OSHA claims; reserves top $1 million year-to-date

Rutherford County — During the January 2026 Benefits and Insurance Committee meeting, county staff presented December financials showing monthly and calendar-year shortfalls and a detailed OSHA/workers'-comp report that committee members flagged for further follow-up.

Risk-and-finance staff reported December revenue of $2,433,955 and expenditures of $2,681,455. For the calendar year, staff reported total revenue of $24,716,747 against expenditures of $29,894,438, yielding a calendar-year revenue shortfall the presenter described as approximately $5.18 million. Mr. Elam told the committee the figures are used for budgeting and that reimbursement from insurers can lag when the county initially pays a claim.

On OSHA and claims, Mr. Elam reported 19 claims in December (11 for the Board of Education and 8 for County General) and provided year-to-date metrics including total recordables, lost-day claims and restricted-day claims. He said monthly reserves were about $65,548 and year-to-date reserves totaled $1,056,586, with year-to-date paid at $668,443.

Committee members asked whether the recent ice event produced a spike in on-the-job injury claims. Mr. Elam said some upticks have been seen but that injuries reported were not typically catastrophic; he also explained that the county pays claims and later seeks subrogation or reimbursement from insurers, which can take a year or two. The chair asked staff to isolate the weather event in the February packet so the committee can consider preparedness and mitigation measures.

The committee moved and approved the financial report and the OSHA report by voice/roll-call votes.

Members indicated they will revisit the breakdown of weather-related claims at the next meeting.